Combined teller and customer booth



Aug. 13, 1946. J, PHIUJPS 2,405,710

COMBINED TELLER AND CUSTOMER BOOTH Filed Dec. 15, 194:3

awe/whom JOHN W PH/MJAS' Patented Aug. 13, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined teller and customer booth particularly designed for use in banks.

An object of the invention is to provide a booth of the character described whereby business transactions can be carried on between the bank teller and customer privately and without observation of those in the bank lobby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a booth of the character described in front of the regular tellers booth, of a bank having entrant and exit doors under the control of the teller.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the invention particularly in horizontal cross-section.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view, partly in section of the releasable latch for the booth door, and

Figure 3 shows a wiring diagram.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures the numeral I designates a conventional booth or cage wherein the receiving and paying teller of a bank is stationed. Deposits are received and cash paid out over the counter 2. In front of the tellers booth, or cage, and within the lobby of the bank, there is located the customers booth 3 which is enclosed on all sides but communicates, for the transaction of business, with the tellers cage I. The booth 3 rests on the floor of the lobby and extends to any desired height and is closed above. It is preferably constructed of strong sheet metal although it may be made of any other selected material. It has the inwardly opening entrant door 4 provided with a transparent pane 4a so that a customer seeking to enter may know whether or not the booth is then occupied.

The booth 3 also has an exit door 5. These doors have the usual spring hinges which normally move them to closed position when they are opened. They are latched in closed position by a conventional latch mechanism 6 shown in Figure 2. Each latch mechanism is associated with an electro-magnet as 1 whereby the latch mechanism may be released when it is desired to open the corresponding door. Each electromagnet is connected into an electric circuit such as 8 and 9 which circuits are provided with the switches l and H accessible to the teller.

Should a customer approach the entrant door 4 he will be observed by the teller through the pane 4a and the switch l0 may be closed to permit the door 4 to open and upon entrance of the customer in the booth the door will swing closed and remain locked in closed position to be released by the teller. The business between the teller and customer may be carried on in private and should the customer make a cash withdrawal, this act cannot be observed by an intended thief which may be lurking by the tellers cage. When the business of the customer is completed, the teller may close the switch ll thus releasing the latch holding the door 5 locked and the customer may pass out through that door and another customer enter.

Should an intended robber enter the booth 3, he will find himself imprisoned therein since the latches locking the doors in closed position are under the control of the teller exclusively.

The drawing and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In bank equipment the combination with a tellers booth, of an enclosed customers booth in the bank lobby adjacent and in communication with the tellers booth, said customers booth being completely enclosed and having an entrant door opening opposite and in front of the tellers booth and also having an exit door opening, swinging doors for completely closing said openings, a transparent pane in the door opposite and in front of the tellers booth, locks automatically cngageable with the doors for maintaining said doors in closed position and electrical means including solenoids under the exclusive control of the teller and which may be alternatively energized by the teller for alternatively releasing said locks.

2. In bank equipment the combination with a tellers booth, of an enclosed customers booth in the bank lobby adjacent and in communication with the tellers booth, said customers booth being completely enclosed and having an entrant door opening opposite the tellers booth and also having a side exit door opening, swinging doors completely closing said openings, locks arranged to automatically engage with the doors for locking said doors in closed position and electrical means including independent solenoids under the exclusive control of the teller and means in the tellers booth for alternatively energizing the solenoids for alternatively releasing said locks.

JOHN W. PHILLIPS. 

